Passion Week

noun

1. the week preceding Easter; Holy Week.
2. the week before Holy Week, beginning with Passion Sunday.

Passion Week

noun

1. the week between Passion Sunday and Palm Sunday
2. (formerly) Holy Week; the week before Easter

Word History and Origins

Origin of Passion Week¹

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400

More About Passion Week

What is Passion Week?

Passion Week is another name for Holy Week, the week before Easter, from Palm Sunday to Holy Saturday.

Passion Week can also refer to the week before Holy Week, beginning on the Sunday known as Passion Sunday. This two-week period from Passion Sunday to Easter Sunday is sometimes called Passiontide.

Easter is the holiday on which Christians celebrate Jesus’s resurrection. The days leading up to Easter Sunday are based on the biblical account of the events that occurred that week, including Jesus’s entry into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday), the Last Supper (Holy Thursday or Maundy Thursday), and his crucifixion and death (Good Friday).

The dates of Passion Week depend on the date of Easter, which moves every year.

Where does Passion Week come from?

The first records of the term Passion Week come from the 1300s. In this context, the word Passion is used to refer to the period of trials and suffering that Jesus experienced before his death, or the biblical account of these events. The word Passion is used in the same way in the term Passion Play.

Passion Week can include a variety of church services, with different ones held on different days.

Did you know ... ?

What are some synonyms for Passion Week?

• Holy Week

What are some words that share a root or word element with Passion Week? 

• Passion Play
• Passion Sunday
• Passiontide

What are some words that often get used in discussing Passion Week?

• Palm Sunday
• Holy Thursday
• Maundy Thursday
• Good Friday
• Holy Saturday
• Easter
• Lent

How is Passion Week used in real life?

Passion Week is more commonly called Holy Week. But it can also refer to the week before Holy Week.

For Christians, this week leading up to Easter is called Passion Week. Passion literally means 'suffering' and so has a lot of significance in our current situation. As with the Easter story, it ends well, so stay encouraged as we go through this together! #passionandpurpose

— NottsHC Chaplaincy (@ChaplaincyNotts) April 6, 2020

Finished this week's bulletin with Passion Week schedule. Now trying to create a contemporary #easter worship set before practice Tues night

— Chris MacKinnon (@MacKinnonChris) March 27, 2010

Just a reminder: no bible study or prayer services today. Meet us at Tabernacle Baptist Church at 7p.m. for Passion Week service.

— Children of God (@COG_Ministries) April 12, 2017

 

 

Try using Passion Week!

True or False?

Passion Week starts on Easter.